Saliva ejector



July 22, 1952 Y I E. H. NOIRDZIN j 6 3,

SALIVA EJECTOR Fi-ld I Jan. 19, 1951;

5]] 5225715? Hardin ALMZM ATTORNEY INVENTOR Patented July 22, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

SALIVA EJECTOR Elling Harald Nordin, Enkoping, Sweden ApplicationJanuary 19, 1951, Serial No. 206,803 In Sweden September 7, 1950 2Claims.

My invention relates to a saliva ejector of the type to be placed in apatients mouth during a dental operation.

Amongst the objects of the invention are to provide a saliva ejectorcombined with a tongue protector which also functions as a mirror orreflector; to provide a device of this character which can bemanufactured at low cost and without soldering or similar operations; toprovide a device of this character which can be used in all positionsrequired and for grown-ups as well as children; to devise the ejectortube so as to eliminate projecting parts that might disturb theoperator; and to provide a saliva ejector which will prevent the softtissue in the mouth from being drawn into the ejector tube.

I attain these objects by the improved device illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational side view of the device according to thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a tongue protector for molars;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a tongue protector for bicuspids;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a tongue protector for front teeth of children;and

Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of one end of the ejector tube withattaching means for a tongue projector.

Referring to the drawing, the saliva ejector comprises an ejector tubel, a tongue protector 4 and a member 5 to be resiliently applied againstthe patients chin. The ejector tube consists of a straight portion Ialong which the member 5 is adjustable by means of a screw 5a, ans-shaped upper portion 2 to which anyone of diiferent tongue protectorsmay be attached, and a lower portion 3 connected to the drain tube 6 ofthe vacuum system (not shown) which is a part of standard dental units.The lower portion 3 is bent inwardly below the upper tube portion 2 soas to have the drain tube suitably balanced with respect to the point ofsupport of the upper tube portion on the jaw. As a result thereof, theweight of the drain tube will maintain the ejector tube in a positionclose to the patients chin so as not to incormmode the operator. TheS-shaped portion 2 has a bend I which, when the ejector is placed in thepatients mouth, rests on the lower front teeth. The member 5 is alsoadjustable horizontally in different angular positions.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the tongue protongue protector, and at theend of the tube there is provided a helical spring l0 resting against aplug l0a.

In order to attach a tongue protector 4 to the tube portion 2, aprojection II on the lower side of the protector is introduced throughthe slot 9, thereby compressing the spring I 0 by the nose I4 so thatthe projection II can enter the tube. A recessed portion l2 then engagesthe left hand edge [3 of the slot 9 so as to retain the protector 4 inposition under the action of the spring I0. It will be understood thatthe shape and size of the parts ll, l2 and [4 are identical fordiiferent tongue protectors to be used in connection with a certainejector tube.

In order to remove the tongue protector from the tube, it is onlynecessary to pull or push the protector to the right, as viewed in Fig.6, against the pressure of the spring [0 so as to disengage the recessl2 from the edge l3.

The plug lOa is preferably shaped such as to be removable from the tubetogether with the spring upon being turned.

The tongue protectors are preferably given highly polished front andback surfaces which act as mirrors or reflectors. In contrast to salivaejectors in which tongue protectors are permanently secured to theejector tube such as by soldering, it is possible in an ejectoraccording to this invention in a simple manner to replace a tongueprotector when its surface has become chafed or fretted. Since nosoldering or welding is required in a device according to the invention,the cost of manufacture is reduced and. no finishing operation isnecessary. Further, non-corroding materials may be. used which wouldgive rise to troubles in soldering and which are highly desirable froma. hygienic point of view. Since the tongue protector is readilydetachable, the device may be used merely for the purpose of ejectingsaliva.

As will be seen from the drawing, the portion of the ejector tube placedwithin the patients mouth forms part of a circle. The balancing of theentire tube on the lower front teeth renders possible self-adjustment ofthe tube in accordance with the depth of the mouth bottom withoutcausing nausea in any position. Due to the fact that the suction ports 8are placed on the upper side of the rearmost ascending portion of thetube, the soft tissue in the mouth will be prevented from being drawninto the ports, while air will be drawn into the tube through the portslocated at a higher level, thus facilitating the ejection of toughsaliva.

It should be understood that I do not wish to 7 limit the invention tothe specific embodiment shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A saliva ejector comprising an ejector tube having a curved firstportion to be placed in a patients mouth and a straight second portiondepending from said first portion, a tongue protector, means detachablyconnecting said tongue protector to said first tube portion, and amember adjustable on said second tube portion and adapted to be appliedagainst thepatients chin,

4 the end of said second tube portion below said member being bentinwards in the direction of said first tube portion.

2. A saliva ejector comprising an ejector tube having a curved firstportion to be placed in a patients mouth and a second portion dependingfrom said first portion, a tongue protector, a projection on saidprotector, said first tube portion having a slot receiving theprojection on the protector, and means retaining said projection in saidslot todetachably secure the protector to said first tube portion.

ELLING I-IARALD NORDIN.

REFERENCES CITED Brown Oct. 24, 1 9 16

